Silver Rabbit

The Silver is one of the most attractive of fancy breeds. Itwas popularly thought that the breed originated in Siam, butall that is known certainly is that the Silver Grey appeared inLincolnshire amongst wild rabbits and in warrens, and werethen known as Lincolnshire Sprigs, Millers, or LincolnshireSilver Greys. The breed was first shown in 186o, and ratherlater the Silver Fawn was first exhibited. These latter wereknown as either Silver Creams or Silver Fawns, and were not,contrary to fairly general belief the same as the Argente-cremebred on the Continent at this time. The Silver Fawn werefirst produced in this country by the crossing of a Silver Greyand a Fawn rabbit, and the original light fawn or creamcolour has been deepened by selection to a deep bright orange.Following the introduction of the Silver Fawn came the SilverBrown, produced by crosses involving the Silver Grey and theBelgian Hare.

The white ticking or silvering of the Silvers, which coversthe entire body, is basically controlled by a mutation which isincompletely recessive, although there are a number of modify-ing factors which control the amount of ticking. The Silver Grey is a black rabbit with white ticking, the Fawn a yellowwills white ticking, and the Brown an Agouti with whiteticking.

The silvering does not appear until after the first moult,i.e. 4 to 6 weeks of age, for the different varieties are completelyblack, Agouti or fawn when born. The silvering consists ofthe loss of pigment in the secondary guard hairs. To finishsilvering some specimens take as long as six or seven months,although others complete the process much earlier.
Apart from being one of the most popular and attractiveof exhibition rabbits, the Silvers are a. most suitable breed for children. They are hardy and of the right size, and offergreat interest in the process of silvering. As adults, althoughonly weighing about six pounds, they produce a most excellentcarcase.